lorraine



' ieissucd Nov. 8, 1921.

D. G. LORRAINE.

OIL, GAS, AND SAND SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18. 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- bhor/0% 0. (a. LORRAINE. OIL, GAS, AND SAND SEPARATOR.APPLICATION FILED JULY 1-8, 1921-- Reissued Nov. 8, 1921.

i asubstantially uniform level of oil may be- PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID G. LORRAINE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

\ 01L, GAS, AND sum emanat on.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

EReissued Nov. 8, 1921.

Original No. 1,373,664, dated April 5, 1921, Serial No. 6,438, filedFebruary 5, 1920. Application m reissue filed July 18, 1921. Serial No.486,317.

To all i072 0271 it may concern.

Be it known that I, DAVID G. LORRAINE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Los Angeles. in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oil, Gas, andSand Separators, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to and has for a primary object the provision ofan apparatus for the eflicient separation of gas and oil from oil wells,where the same is not in the form of emulsion, and does not contain sandand water and without pressure, and adaptable also for the purposewithout modification, for maintaining a pressure whereby an emulsion maybe broken up into its constituent elements.

g It will be understood in the consideration of my invention that it isnecessary and de-' sirable to treat theoils obtained from the oil wellsso as to thoroughly separate the gas and oil for different uses and soas to remove from the volume of oil all traces of water and sand whichmay be ejected from the well with the oil. To this end it is an objectof my invention to provide an apparatus embodying a receptacle intowhich the volume of oil and accompanying substances is delivered fromthe well, for the purpose of separating the gas, water and sandtherefrom. Said receptacle is preferably of substantial size andcontents. so that a maximum volume of oil may be treated therein duringthe operation of the apparatus, and

the separating operation facilitated.

Heretofore gas, and oil separators have been so arranged as to provide arelatively shallow volume of oil, so that only a small volume may betreated at one operation, for the separation of the gas and otherelements therefrom, and it is an object of my invention therefore toprovide a receptacle of ample capacity, whereby a large volume andmaintained at a point above the mean elevation of the receptacle and inthe major portion thereof, thereby rendering it possible to separate thegas-from amaximum volume of oil. The upper and minor portion of thereceptacle constitutes a gas collection or accumulation chamber fromwhich the gas liberated from the oil is delivered by a suitable means'to rator for use.

It is a further object of my invention to sub-divide the interior of thegas and'oil receptacle into two separate segmental chambers, by means ofa vertical partition arranged therein and in communication at the top ofthe receptacle with the gas collection chamber, and at the bottomthereof with the oil receiving portion of the receptacle. The oil withits constituent elements" is delivered from the well into the upperpartition of the receiving chamber on one side of the said partition,which is relatively smaller than the other chamber of the receptacle,and the oil or emulsion rises to a higher level in the receiving chamberthan the level of the volume of oil in the main chamber.

The arrangement of the said'partition prevents the disturbance of themain volume of oil and permits the settling of the sand and water to thebottom of the tank, while the injection of the oil and its constituentelements from the well into the receiving chamber of the receptacleliberates a large volume of gas, as the oil enters the receptacle andthus the gas liberated collects in the upper portion of the receptacle.The heavier elepoints remote from the separnents settle to the bottom ofthe tank and rise to and maintain a substantially uniform level in themain chamber thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in an apparatus of thecharacter described. means whereby the emulsified oil from oil wells maybe injected by the natural pressure of the Wells into and treated underpressure in the separating receptacle, for breaking up the emulsion intoits constituent elements, so that the oil and valuable ingredientsthereof may be withdrawn for use, and the other elements separatedtherefrom and whatever gas may be contained in the emulsion may becollected in the gas chamber of the receptacle.

Still another object of my invention 15 to provide effectual means forautomatically controlling the discharge of the oil and gas 'from theapparatus separately and especially to provide a float device adapted towithstand the pressure that may remain within the separating receptacleand whereby the discharge of the gas and oil is effectually controlled.

sureto overcome Another object is to provide in an apparatus of thecharacter mentioned, a receptacle having means capable of being employedfor the separation of gas, oil, sand and water, and the accumulation ofthe gas in thelupper portion of the receptacle without any pressure forthe gurpose of expelling the same for use, an being employed fordemulsifying oils and reducing the same to their constituent elements,when the emulsion is supplied to the separating receptacle underpressure from the wells and whereby a substantial back pressure may bemaintained in the gas discharge line for holding emulsion under a"greater pressure wlthlnthe receptacle than is necessary in the case ofthe separation of oil and gas in other forms than emulsion.

Another object of the invention is to providehydrostatic means forseparating the gas and oil and for preventing the loss of gas with theoutwardly passing oil and to provide such a hydrostatic means readilyvariable to afford difierent heads of oil presthe interior pressureduring the operation of the apparatus, without overflowing thereceptacle.

, Another object of the invention is to provide for the minuteadjustment of the oil discharge mechanism.

, Another object is to provide an organization in which the severalparts are simple in construction, readily removable and renewable, andto provide coordinate valve means operative byv a single connection withthe I said pneumatic control means.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method fortreating oil emulsions to break up and separate the inredients of theemulsion.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of themethod, the combination and in details and arrangements of the parts, anembodiment of the invention being illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and described and claimed herein.

Figure 1 s a side'elevation of the improved apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a section on line3--3 of 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line it-41 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is asection on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6is a detail sectional view of theupper portion of the neumatic float.

The apparatus inclu es, preferably, an upright cylindrical tank orreceptacle 2 of any suitable dimensions having a head3 with a manhole 4which. is shown in Fig. 2 as closable by a manhole. plate 5., The lowerend of the tank is provided with a bottom 6 having a central outlet pipe7 in which is provided a cut-off valve 8 which. when opened, will.provide for the washing out of such material as sand or other substancecollect-- ing in the bottom of the receptacle and also capable of aroundits lower end a sleeve and receptacle 2 which discharge may befacilitated by the introduction of water or other fluid under pressureby the opening of avalve :9 arranged in a pressure pipe 10 at one side,and in the lower portion, or the receptacle 2. Oil or emulsion to betreated is introduced, preferably, through the top 3 of the receptacleto which is connected a supply pipe 12 leading in through a connection1? on the top of the receptacle and which connection is shown in Fig. 4as including a downwardly extending tube 1-1 which may have C or hood 15provided at its upper portion with a gas outlet 16; the lower end of thesleeve 15 may have open mouth 18 formed in the side of the sleeve andwhich mouth is disposed toward the adjacent surface of the wall .of the,receptacle 2.

The inlet leeve 15 is arranged, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, as in closejuxtaposition to one side of the cylindrical receptacle; and extendingvertically and transversely across this receptacle there is provided apartition wall 19, the flanges 20 of which may be riveted or otherwisesecured, as at 21, to the interior surface of the receptacle 2. r Thelower end of this partition 19 may terminate or have communication withthe opposite chamber well above 'the bottom of the receptacle and thepartition forms a confined vertical passageway or chamber down which theoil issuing from the mouth 18'ot the inlet sleeve 15 is directed and iscaused the partition 20 before the lighter materials, such as gas andoils, can rise to a predetermined variable height in the receptacle.This enables the sand that may be contained in the oil or emulsion,coming from the supply pipe 12. to settle toward the bottom while theoil passes around the lower edge .of or throughparts in the partitionand ascends in the larger compartment formed on the opposite side of thepartition. The upper end of said partition may also terminate short ofthe top of the receptacle or have partsthere in communication with thegas chamber.

The accumulating gases ascending to the top and minor portion of thereceptacle pass into an outlet 22 and into a gas pipe 23 in which may beprovided a gage 21. The outwardly passing gas flows down a pipe 25 inthe lower end of which is mounted a valve 26 controlling the flow fromthe receptacle 2. From the valve 26 is continued a delivery gas pipe 27in which there is mounted a valve 28. Fig. 3, designed to'holdapredetermined back pressure in the gas line the valve. in this case.

i being provided with a weight lever arm 29 connected to the stem 30 ofthe valve.

Oil is discharged from the receptacle an inclined bottom 17 below theling th 'tiguous end of through an adjustable outlet consisting, in thiscase, of an elbow 31 turnable about an axis in the connection 32which'is extended to the outside of the receptacle 2 and has adownturned branch 33 leading into an oil regulating valve 34 from whichthe oil passes into a delivery pipe 35.

One of the features of the present invention resides in means for verycarefully adjusting the level of the outlet member 31 as by swinging itabout its axis in the member 32; and to secure this refinement ofadjustment the outlet member has attached to it a link or' rod 36extending up through a.

y 37 and thence through a bearing 38,.

ig. 2, to which is attached a yoke or other suitable member 39 to-whichis rotatively secured a handwheel 40 that engages the upper threaded end41 of the rod 36. Therefore, by turning the handwheel 40 in one or theother direction it will lift or lower the rod 36 and consequently setthe opening of the outlet member 31'at a desired position so as toenable the separation or outflow of the oil at or above a'desiredpredetermined level with respect to the liquid content of the receptacle2, as it is obvious that the oil will vary in glarity according to thespecific grav1ty 0 its constituents and the upper portion of a mass ofoil is therefore clearer than the lower portion, and to securetheseparation of this clearer or better quality the outlet member 31 ismade adjustable.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of abuoyant yet substantial means for automatically contro1 e opening andclosing simultaneously of the gas outlet valve 26 and the oil outletvalve 34, and to that end these valves are shown as mounted on a commonrock shaft 45 on which is provided a lever 46 to the outer end of whichis connected a link 47 the upper end of which is attached at 48 to alever arm 49 on 'whiclfi may be adjusted a counter-balancing wei 'ht 50.

e lever arm 49 is secured to the cona short rock shaft 51 mounted in abox 52 attached to the side of the re ceptacle 2, this box havingdiverging walls formlng a mouth opening to the interior of thereceptacle 2, and in this month there oscillates a lever 53 attached tothe portion of the shaft 51 extending into the box 52. The swinging endof the lever 53 is pivotally connected at 54 to a bearing 55 that isattached to the adjacent side of a pneumatic cylinder or float 56. Forthe purpose of stabilizing and maintaining the float cylinder in avertical position it has connected to it at 57 the side arms of a yoke58 which has rearwardly extending parallel arms 59 these being pivotedon a earing 60 arranged within the receptacle 2; the length of the leverdevice 58 and the lever 53 being substantially equal and thereforeholding the float 56 in adupright position and causing it to move. in avertical position at all times as determined by variation of the levelof the oil in the receptacle 2. l Vhen treating an emulsion as abovementioned, there is maintained in the receptacle a gas pressure asdetermined by the adjustment of the pressure regulating. valve 28, andit is desirable to provide, therefore, a pneumatic float as 56 whichwill not only be of a highly buoyant characteristic but. also Wlll beable to withstand the exterior pressures applied without crushing, andtherefore, the float 56 is made in hollow cylinder and has at its upperend a check valve 61 that may be covered b a removable cap 62, and thepneumatic oat 56 may be charged with compressed air or gas to anydesired, degree or equal to the maximum at which pressure would bemaintained in the receptacle 2.

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows:

on treating an emulsion, the valve 28, having been set by its regulatingmeans 29 to hold a given pressure in the receptacle 2 then as theemulson is supplied to the rece tacle by the oil supply pipe 12 thelatter wlll be directed down the small compartment through the inlet orfeed sleeve 15 by which the oil is showered onto the adjacent portion ofthe receptacle wall whence it flows downwardly between the-wall and thepartition 19, any gases being liberated rising to' the top of thiscompartment and assing over the upper end of or through t e partition19- and accumulating in the upper end of the receptacle 2. Y

The oil mass, or emulsion in some cases, passes beneath the lower end ofor through the partition 19 and thus facilitates the deposit orseparation of solids such assand or other heavy substances, and thelighter portion of the oil with the gas and the emulsion rises into thelarger compartment of the receptacle and passes upwardly to a level thatis determined by the position of the pneumatic float 56. The emulsionwill be compressed to a pressure determined by the adjustment of thevalve 28 and maintained there, and the emulsion will be broken up intoits constituent elements thereby, and as the oil accumulates it willtend to lift the float 56 and through means of the lever arm 53 rock therock shaft- 51 and through means of its connection to thevalve shaft 45rock the latter so as to open or increase the opening of the oil valve34 and permit the discharge of oil through the outlet member 31 past thevalve 34 and to the discharge 35. Thereupon the level of the oil willtend to fall until in such action the float 56 in dethe form of a.

scending will again, tend to close orpartially close the oil valve 34and open or increase in the discharge pipe 'by providing the openingofthe gas valve 26. This alternate action of the automatic valvemechanism will continue sol'ong as oil is supplied by the main oil pipe13 to the apparatus. It will be understood, however, that the level ofthe fluid contents of the main chamber of the receptacle 2 will be atalltimes substantially uniform, and when the apparatus is properlyadjustedthis level will. be maintained at a pointwell above the meanelev-ation of the'receptacle so as to insure a maximum volume of oilfrom which the gas may be liberated and yet provide an ample space forthe accumulation of the gas.

From the'above it will be seen that I have provided a method forseparating or facilitating the separation of the gas and oil andseparately discharging the same from emulsion; and furthermore haveprovided a method in which, by maintaining a predetermined pressure inthe oil receptacle, the latter is subjected to pressures having theeffect of expressing the gaseous content from emulsions, the gaseousconstituent in the emulsion being driven from the denser liquids by theincrease in the pressure on the oil within the receptacle 2. This,therefore, prevents the ,loss of the-valuable gaseous constituent suchas occurs in apparatus in which the oil passes immediately from a wellor other source to an apparatus in which it is subject only toatmospheric pressure.

In the event of treating oils that are not. emulsifiedthe valve 28 maybeomittedand the gas provided with free outlet without pressure or astatic head, or pressure may be secured by maintaining a volume of oilthe the attrition between the emulsion causes a rapid separation of thegaseous content as the oil and mixture engages the water.

It has been found from practical experience in the operation of thisapparatus that.

there is an increase in the production of 011 from some wells because ofthe uniform flow from the separator which prevents the rapid incrementin the quantity of sand or-:

dinarily found in wells. and which increment results in the clogging orjamming of the well and loss of production until the well is blown.

The sand sheet 19 is, preferably, provided with a windowopening that maybe covered by a cover plate 19 through which the mem: ber 15 may beapplied and removed when necessary.

It will be understood that frequently the flow from'oil wells isnonuniform, the flow coming in impulses and varying in extent andpressure, and this occasions the delivery of sand to. a more or lessextent. which frequently stops the How of oil from the well.

Vith the use of my apparatus. however, in connection with an oil well,because of the arrangement of parts and the connection between the welland the separating device, when a well is flowing a substantiallyuniform the delivery of oil from the well is stabilized and prolongedfrequently beyond the period of its natural flow, and theimpulses areprevented also because of the com lete regulation of the flow from thewell. "hen connectedwith my separator sand is not encountered insufficient quantities to stop or influence the flow and altogether amore uniform and satisfactory delivery from the latter with a safetyextension 35*. This ens/ ell is maintained.

tension is shown as in the form of a U-shaped pipe stem that is turnablefrom a horizontal to an upright position about the axis of the pipe andmay be temporarily and substantially secured in its angular adjustmentby a suitable jack comprising for instance a postm35" having a sleeve 35the upper end of which engages the cross or top section of the siphontube as at 35. i

Forthe purpose of breaking the siphon etfect'in one branch as 35 of thetube an inwardly opening check valve 35 is mounted, preferably, in thebend of the siphonic device so that the oil will not be drawn from thebranch'to which the pipe 35 is connected but will be maintained thereinto prevent drawing out of the gas from the recepta- Preferably water ismaintained in the bot tom of the receptacle to a level somewhat abovethe lower end of the sand sheet or partition or the part therein, sothat the 1ncoming supply of oil when passing below the lower end of orthrough the partition is brought into'contact with the water and It willbe further understood that because of the vertical partition within theseparating receptacle and the provision of the separate receiving andseparating compartr ments. the products of'the well into thesmallerreceiving chamber and all of the agitation of the oil is effectedin the receiving chamber,-while the mam volume of oil is maintained at astationary level and without agitation in the larger settling chamber ofthe receptacle, Now, this in the case of oil and gas other than emulsionis effected without pressure. The tendency of oil and products is tocreate pressure when the same is agitated in the receptacle and by theprovision of the partition receptacle described herein. This agitationand the consequent increase of pressure within the receptacle isentirely eliminated and the gas is allowed to flow freelyifrom the gascollection chamber in'the minor and upper portion of the receptacle. l

The treatment of emulsions, however, re quires a substantial pressurewithin thegreceptacle in order that the emulsion may be flow ismaintained at all times. and

are delivered interior of broken up completely and the constituentelements thereof liberated and Separated.

The pressure is maintained in the receptacle by means of the weightvalve 28 which is not necessary for the treatment of the natural gas andoil.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus for separating gas and oil from oil wells comprisinga receptacle, a vertical partition arranged in the receptacle andterminating short of the top and bottom of the receptacle, and meansarranged between the said partition and a contiguous wall of thereceptacle for introducing the oil from the well whereby the oil iscaused to flow downwardly and around the lower .end of the partition andrise on the opposite side and the gas that freely escapes from the oilrising to the top of the receptacle and collecting above the upper endof the partition, said means including an inlet oil tube arranged in theupper part of the receptacle, said tube having a surrounding dischargesleeve with a deflecting'bottom plate for discharging the oil toward thereceptacle wall.

2. In an apparatus for separating gas and oil from oil wells comprisinga receptacle, a vertical partition arranged in the receptacle andterminatin short of the top and bottom of the receptac e, and meansarranged between the said partition and a contiguous wall of thereceptacle for introducing the oil from the well whereby the oil iscaused to flow downwardly and around the lower end of the partition andrise on the opposite side and the gas that freely escapes from the oilrising to the top of the receptacle and collecting above the upper endof the partition; said means including an inlet oil tube arranged in theupper part of the receptacle, said tube havin a surrounding dischargesleeve with a de ecting bottom plate for discharging the oil toward thereceptacle wall; said sleeve having upper and lower outlets for gasand'oil respectively.

3. In an apparatus for separating oil and gas, a receptacle, havingseparate discharge means for the oil and gas, each having an exteriorvalve actuated by a common crank, said valves being set for one to openas the other closes and float means within the receptacle actuated bythe height of the liquid, operatively connected to said crank to actuatesaid valves.

4. In an apparatus for separating oil and gas, the combination of areceptacle having oil inlet means, separate oil and gas outlet meanscomprising pipes extending from the said receptacle, stop cocks arrangedin said pipes, one to open as the other closes and actuated by a commoncrank, float means within the receptacle operatively connected to saidcommon crank adapted to actuate the valves with reference to p theheight of the liquid within the receptacle.

a receptacle for receiving tion near its top 5. In an apparatus forseparating gas and oil, the combination of a receptacle, a float withinthe'receptacle for actuating 'gas, and oil outlet valves, said floatcomprising a sealed chamber, two supporting arms of equal lengthspivoted to said float at their proximal ends and pivoted to the wall ofthe receptacle at their distal ends to hold the chamber in substantiallyvertical alinement during movement thereof, the pivotal centers of saidarms being off-set in vertical alinement at their distal ends, one ofsaid arms having an extension thereon extending through the wall of thereceptacle and being operatively connected to of said valves.-

6. In an apparatus for separating gas and oil from oil wells, areceptacle having a vertical partition arranged therein and subdi vidingthe interior of said receptacle into two separate chambers arranged forcommunication near the top and bottom portions an actuating arm"thereof, and means in communication with' one of said compartments forintroducing the oil from a' well thereinto, whereby the oil is caused toflow downwardly in said receiving chamber and into the lower portion of.saidother chamber and to rise on the opposite side of said partition,the gas being iberatedfrom the oil in said receiving chamber anddelivered therefrom to and discharged with the gas from the upperportion of said other chamber above the level of oil therein andaccumulating therein for delivery to points externally of saidreceptacle. 1

7. In an oil and gas separating device, the oil and gas from wells, avertical partition fixed therein for subdividing the interior of saidreceptacle into a receiving chamber and a relatively larger settlingchamber, said partition being arranged toafiord communicaand bottombetween said chambers, means for delivering a volume of oil and gas froma well into said receiving chamber whereby the gas may be liberated fromthe oil and discharged into the upper portion of and commonly dischargedwith the gas in said settling chamber and the oil caused to flowdownwardly in said receiving chamber and into and to rise in saidsettling chamber, and means for regulating the supply and discharge ofthe oil to and from said receptacle, respectively, whereby the level ofthe oil in said settling chamber may ,be' maintained at a substantiallyuniform elevation and substantially above the vertical center of thereceptacle, for treating a. maximum volume of oil therein.

- 8. In a gas and oil separating device for oil wells, a receptacle forreceiving the oil from a well and having a vertical partition thereinsubdividing the interior of the reeeptacle into spearate chambers incommunr cation at points near the top and bottom, the upper portion ofthe receptacle serving as a common receiver for the gas from bothchambers, andmeans for supplying a volume of oil to and discharging thesame from said receptacle,whereby a maximum volume of oil may bemaintained at a substantially uniform level in said receptacle at aplane above the vertical center thereof. the gas liberated therefrom andaccumulated above the level of the oil and the heavierconstituentscaused to settle to the bottom of saidreceptacle, asdescribed.

9. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptacle havinga receiving compartment and a settling compartment arranged forcommunication at the top where by thegas may be liberated from the oilintroduced into said receiving compartment and discharged into the upperportion of and united with the gas in said other compartment, and alsoarranged for communication at the bottom whereby the oil may i flowdownwardly in said receiving compartment and into saidother compartmentand the other constituents separated therefrom.

10. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptacle havingan oil receiving chamber anda settling chamber, a vertical partitiontherebetween arranged open at the top for providing communicationbetween said chambers, a gas outlet common to both of said chambers andmeans whereby a substantially uniform level of. oil may be maintained insaid settling chamber above the vertical center line of said receptacle.

11. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptaclehavingan oil receiving chamber and a settling chamber arranged forcommunication near the top and bottom of the receptacle, and providedwith a common gas outlet and float controlled means whereby thedischarge of the woil fromsaid receptacle is automatically regulated formaintaining asubstantially uniform level, of oil in thevsettlin chamber,above the vertical center line of the receptacle.

12. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a. receptaclehaving anoil receiving chamber and a settling chamber, having a commonoutlet forthe gas generated therein, a vertical partition therebetweenarranged for affording communication between said chambers near the topand bottom of said receptacle, and float means in the upper portion ofsaid settling chamber for regulating the discharge of the oil, whereby asubstantially uniform level of oil may be maintained in said settlingchamber above a the vertical center line of said receptacle.

13. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptacle havinga vertical partition terminating short of the top and hottom thereof,and forming an oil receiving chamber and a settling chamber arranged forcommunication at the top in bottom of said receptacle, means forintroducing a volume of oil from a well into said receiving chamber, theoil being delivered from the bottom of said receiving chamber into vthebottom of said settling chamber, the gas from both of said chambrsbeingunited and commonly discharged and means where by a substantiallyuniform level of oil may be maintained in said settling chamber abovethe, verticalcenter line of said receptacle.

14:. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptaclehaving an oil receiving chamber and a settling chamber arranged forcommunication between the top and bottom of said receptacle, means forin.- troducing a volume of oil from a well into saidreceiving chamber,the oil being delivered from the bottom of said receiving chamber intothe bottom of said settling chamber, and float \controlled means forregulating the discharge of oil from the settling chamber, whereby asubstantially uniform level of oil may be maintained in the settlingchamber above thevertical center line of said receptacle, the gas beingliberated from the oil in said receiving cham ber andbeing' dischargedinto and from said settling chamber.

15. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptacle havingan oil receivingchamber and a settling chamber ar ranged forcommunication near the top and bottom of the receptacle, a verticalpartition between said chambers, a pivoted float supported in the upperportion of said receptacle for regulating the discharge of the oil fromthe. settling chamber, whereby a substantially uniform level of oil maybe maintainedin said settling chamber above the vertical center lineofsaid receptacle.

16. An oil and gas separator for oil wells including a receptacle havingan oil receiving chamber and a settling chamber arranged forcommunication near the top and bottom of the receptacle, a verticalpartition :between said chambers, a float supported in the upper portionof said receptacle for regulating the discharge of the oil from thesettling chamber. whereby a. substautially uniform level of oil may bemaintained in said settling chamber above the vertical center line ofsaid receptacle, and means for introducing a volume of oil from a wellinto the top of said receiving chamber. whereby the gas may be liberatedfrom the oil so introduced, and discharged into the upper portion ofsaid receptacle, above thelevel-of the oil in the settling chamber, anda common outlet for the gas from both. of said chambers.

17 An oil and gas separator for oil wells, including a receptacle havinga receiving chamber therein for the reception of oil and itsconstituents, and a settling chamber communicating with said receivingchamber, a float mounted in the upper portion ofsaid receptacle forregulating the discharge of the oil therefrom, whereby a substantiallyuniform volume and leveLof oil may be maintained said settling chamberat a point above the vertical center of the receptacle.

18 An oil and gas separator vfor oil wells including areceptacle havinga receiving chamber therein for the reception of oil and itsconstituents, and a settling chamber communicating with said receivingchamber, said receivin chamber and said settling chamber having a commonoutlet whereby the gas liberated from the oil in both chambers may becommonly discharged, a float mounted in the upper portion of saidreceptacle for regulating the discharge of the oil therefrom, whereby asubstantially uniform volume and level of oil may be maintained inthereof, an oil discharge valve communicating with said settling chamberand externall'y mounted on said receptacle, and means for operativelyconnecting said float with said valve.

DAVID G. LORRAINE. Witnesses.

J. W. SHEELEY, LUTHER L. MACK

